Do you think calling police for stray dogs is a waste of time? Travis Bureau of Waterboro, Maine, and Diana Dodier of Sanbornville, don’t think so. Police responded to an accident they were involved in because a stray dog ran across Route 153 on Saturday, July 13. Controlling family dogs isn’t just about obeying the law — it’s also about protecting them and the public.

Speaking of safety, do you teach your children to walk facing traffic? Pedestrians (adults who should know better) were observed twice this week walking on local roads with their backs to traffic. They would have no warning to avoid a distracted driver swerving toward them. Scary!

The milfoil treatment conducted June 14 was quite effective. Further ensuring the effectiveness, a diver was also employed to look for any remaining plants and should have completed his work by this date. It will still take diligence to protect the water quality and control invasive weeds. Join the effort to protect the lake by attending the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program ‘weed watcher’ workshop on Aug. 3 at the Town Beach at 9 a.m. For further information, contact Amy Smagula, DES Exotic Species Program Coordinator, at (603) 271-2248 or by e-mailing to amy.smagula@des.nh.gov.

Many people have expressed interest in how our ICF (insulated concrete form) home was constructed. You can watch the process in Rochester at 120 Washington St. (corner of Brock Street). Groen Builders, the contractor who built our home, is constructing a three-story ICF building at that site. For the obvious reasons of safety, insurance, and of course OSHA, observation must be done from outside the fence.

The Middleton Heritage Commission held its first official meeting on Wednesday, July 24 and subsequent meetings will be every fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal building. Their efforts to preserve and restore the Old Town Hall are important not only from the historical perspective but also because the building is a vital and lively scene for many of the town’s social events.

SCHOOL NEWS

For the record, Middleton and Farmington are still working to develop a new AREA Agreement, in spite of some who have indicated extreme frustration with the process, even to questioning the usefulness of doing so. Several points of tuition calculation are still items of discussion and it must be noted that without precisely knowing what items the FSB includes in tuition calculation, Middleton panel members cannot endorse any agreement or present any recommendation to the MSB or residents.

At the FSB meeting of June 17, it was finally agreed not to include SAU apportionment in future calculations. Even though minutes included a statement that inclusion amounted to charging twice, it was also emphasized that this was not an ‘admission that it was previously done incorrectly.’ A few other financial items are still being discussed, with the opinion expressed that total agreement might be achieved through compromise. Then there is the issue of accreditation and how it impacts the AREA Agreement.

SOCIAL NEWS

The Middleton Library is missing their ‘Open’ sign. At first it was suspected someone had taken it in to protect it from the weather when it was accidentally left outside. Now it appears that someone has stolen it. There is no reward offered for its return—only forgiveness for such an inconsiderate and senseless theft.

It’s bar-b-que time! Mark Aug. 3 on your calendar for a great family afternoon at the Middleton Park. The Recreation Committee will be cooking up a good time. They will be serving chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, potato and macaroni salad and watermelon. Adult servings will be $7 for tickets bought in advance, $8 at the ‘door,’ children’s prices TBD. Festivities are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with food service starting around noon. Along with the food, they will be offering lots of cool Penny Sale items. Some of the donated items are two New England Dragway tickets, a framed photo from a local artist, a dress from reversible4kids, a garden basket from Middleton Lumber, a $25 GMC ticket from Diprizio’s, gift certificates from Empire Beauty School, and much more. Get your tickets by calling Joe or Tammy Bailey at (603) 755-3225.

Oct. 5 is the date for a trip to the Mohegan Sun. Further information in a future article.

POLICE ACTIVITY

The Police Department would like to thank everyone for being responsible in celebrating the 4th of July. There were no fireworks incidents or injuries and no DWI violations. Still, from June 24 through July 7 there were 50 police log entries.

Three entries were for paperwork service; the 24th on Buttermilk Lane, 25th on Kings, and the 29th on Karen Road. On Kings Highway, one call was police information, one for fingerprinting, one for paperwork relay, and three sex offender registrations. General police service rendered June 26 on Kings Highway and on July 6 on Lakeshore Drive. On June 24, police dealt with a road hazard (did you see the tree struck by lightning?) VIN verification was required on June 26 on Kings Highway and June 28 at Todd’s Collision. Also Kings Highway on June 28, police investigated an E911 hang up on Lakeshore Drive, two harassment issues June 24 (phone) on Drew Drive and July 1 on Pine Ridge Road (phone and lewdness), a domestic disturbance on June 29 on Drew Drive, and on July 6 delivered a message to Karen Road.

The log included three reports of theft: June 25 on Route 153, June 26, Silver Street, and July 4, Lakeshore Drive and a report of found property on Access Road on June 30.

There were four calls for medical assist: June 26 to Kings Highway and Tufts Road, July 4 and July 5 both to Kings Highway and two entries for mutual aid; June 24 to Milton at 3 Ponds Tavern, and June 29 to Christopher Road in Milton for a disturbance.

On June 30 department aid was called regarding a missing juvenile. On July 3 there was a civil issue on Pine Ridge Road, a call for civil standby on Ridge Road, a noise complaint on Jordan Drive and on July 4 a motor vehicle complaint on Kings Highway. Did you read about the accident?

Police responded to three animal complaints: June 27 on Buttermilk Lane, June 29 and July 5 on Route 153. On July 1 there was an entry for failure to report injury to a dog. Nine suspicious person/MV/activity entries were made. Two on June 25 for Ridge Road and Jones Beach, one on July 1 on Silver Street, two on July 3 on Pine Road, two on July 5 on Pinkham Road and New Portsmouth Road and July 6 on Pinkham Road and Ridge Road.

On July 1 police logged an incident of driving after revocation or suspension with the additional entry of disobeying a police officer (really?!) The entry for July 2 on Karen Road listed simple assault, criminal mischief, vandalism and threatening with a deadly weapon. On that last report, we close with a wish for public and police safety and our thanks to the officers for their service—frequently above and beyond.